Of course, I have seen both film versions of True Grit (and I thought, unusually, the remake was better than the original) but, embarrassingly, I didn't realise that the original was a book. I found out when reading about something else altogether, and put the book down on my birthday list.
   It duly arrived.
   This may be the first time I have read a book after seeing its film version (twice), and it was rather odd to find myself thinking, Oh, the book follows the film quite closely. Which of course is bonkers. The book stands alone, and does it very well. I really enjoyed the story, the dry humour, the casual violence than characters seem to take for granted, the continual facing off to prove who is the toughest. Read it. The introduction to the book says that this is one novel that will stay with you forever and you will want to read more than once. I agree. One of the most enjoyable reads I can remember from recent years.